Definition

Noun: 1. A relatively small, fast-moving sloth species characterized by having two long claws on each front foot. This distinguishes it from three-toed sloths. 2. A sloth native to Central and South America, specifically of the genus Choloepus. It has two long claws on each forefoot and three long claws on each hindfoot.

Usage Examples

• The two-toed sloth spends most of its life hanging upside down in the rainforest canopy.
• Compared to its three-toed cousin, the two-toed sloth has a broader diet, including fruits and insects.
• We were lucky to spot a two-toed sloth moving along a branch during our jungle tour.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used in zoological and biological contexts to classify and describe this specific genus of mammal within the order Pilosa.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe someone who is extremely slow or lethargic, drawing on the animal's famous characteristic, though "sloth" alone is more common for this figurative use.
  • After lunch, I felt like a two-toed sloth and couldn't get off the couch.

Variants and Related Words

• Linnaeus's two-toed sloth (): One of the two extant species of two-toed sloth.
• Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (): The other extant species of two-toed sloth.
• Unau: An archaic or less common name for the two-toed sloth.
• Three-toed sloth (genus ): The other major genus of sloths, characterized by three claws on all four feet.

Synonyms

• Unau (specific, but less common)
• Choloepus (scientific genus name)

Related Phrases

• No specific phrasal verbs or idioms are directly formed from this compound noun. The word "sloth" itself is the base for figurative language (e.g., "slothful," "the sin of sloth").

Noun

1. relatively small fast-moving sloth with two long claws on each front foot
2. a sloth of Central America that has two long claws on each forefoot and three long claws on each hindfoot